2017 Mercedes-AMG S63 Cabriolet: First Impressions
How do you make one of the most beautiful luxury cars on the market even more appealing? Easy. Cut the roof off! That’s just what Mercedes-AMG has done with the new 2017 S63 Cabriolet, the droptop version of the ultra-posh, ultra-fast luxury coupe that debuted at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. Based on the S-Class chassis, the S-Class coupe is already one heck of a looker — but swap in a retractable three-layer soft-top that you can operate at speeds up to 37 mph and it just gets better.
More 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show Coverage
It’s more than just a chop job, however. Mercedes has reworked a lot of the bits you can’t see, swapping out some of the coupe’s steel bracing for aluminum in the cabrio, so despite adding weight for a retractable top and mechanism, the convertible weighs the same as the coupe. Mercedes’ convertible-specific systems are also available to keep you toasty warm in chilly top-down motoring, such as AirScarf, which can direct warm air onto occupants’ necks with the S63’s top up or down.
Walk up to the S Cabrio, which will be available in S550 and fire-breathing S63 AMG versions, and you’re struck by just how big the car is. It’s thick; it’s tall; it’s imposing. The fenders bulge over impossibly big wheels and tires, and the doors are long and heavy to open.
Gaze at the massive front seats, which are more bolstered and seem thicker than those in the regular S-Class sedan, and it feels almost like a guilty pleasure to consider driving this car. Nobody needs a convertible this big or luxurious; it’s just pure indulgence and unbridled opulence in nearly every aspect.
Slide into those multi-adjustable thrones and you’re surprised again at the interior’s design. Everything is covered in high-quality leather (no MB-Tex imitation leather here), beautifully lacquered wood or solid metal trimmings. I’m still not sure how I feel about the all-digital dashboard’s two rectangular screens, but whether you find it appealing or not, you have to agree that it’s dramatic.
Mercedes-Benz has done an excellent job of crafting an interior that uses traditional elements in shapes and forms that are fully modern and futuristic. You may need to win the lottery to afford one, but once you have one, you’ll feel like you’ve won it again.
